Acts 2:1-4 “When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.“
Dear children and families, teacher Lixin and Joy just led us sing to the Lord “take my hands, lead me on, take my heart, I am yours” it’s so beautiful and still ringing in my head, I could vision a beautiful picture when my whole self has been submitted to the Lord, and moving in His direction, just like the sheep following their good shepherd.(pic 1: sheep follow shepherd) But in reality, you and I are just like sheep so often will go astray. We like to do and say things our own ways. Our good shepherd the Lord Jesus knew who we are the sheep would still go our way even he has redeemed us. So, he has already prepared a helper to help us. Before our Lord Jesus was arrested, he told his disciples, from John 14: 26 “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you” (ESV). Our good shepherd has promised to send a helper who is the Holy Spirit to guide us when he is not with us. Last week Pastor Sidney taught us that Jesus asked His disciples to wait patiently for the promised gift. (show the gift bag) The promised gift from our God is the promised helper, the Holy Spirit. Today from Acts 2, we would learn together when and how the promised Holy Spirit came. It is so important that the Holy Spirit is in every part of our study of the book of Acts. (picture #2)The acts and the witness of the apostles are the work of the Holy Spirit. The Holy spirit came to teach, to guide, to warn, to comfort the believers, and ultimately to testify of Jesus. (picture #3) Before we get into our lesson, let’s have a quick review of what pastor Sidney taught us last Sunday. Text in your answers with the right number.
1. Who wrote Acts? (1. Luke 2. Mark 3. John) (1. Luke 2. Mark 3. John) 2. How many days did Jesus stay on the earth after His resurrection? (1. 20days 2. 30days 3. 40days) (1. 20days 2. 30days 3. 40days) 3. Where did Jesus tell the disciples to wait for the promised Holy Spirit? (1. Samaria 2. Jerusalem 3. Bethlehem) (1. Samaria 2. Jerusalem 3. Bethlehem)
Great job! Let’s read with Nico from Acts 2:1-4 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
The Apostles must have been in Jerusalem for about 10 days because God chose the perfect day to reveal the Holy Spirit which was on the Day of Pentecost, it’s also called the Feast of weeks. The Day of Pentecost was 50 days after the Passover Sabbath. During the feast there were thousands of Jews gathered in Jerusalem from all other part of the world. (pic #4)
(Verse 1-4 again, with underlined)
Acts 2:1-4 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
From verse 2, what did it sound like in the room that the believers were gathered in? (mighty rushing wind) What unusual sight happened in that room from Verse 3? (divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them.) Who filled the believers, verse 4? (The Holy Spirit) What did He help them to do? (Speak in other languages) God kept His promise and He sent the gift of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. (show the gift bag again)
The sound of mighty rushing wind from heaven now marked the arrival of the Holy Spirit on this day. I think that rushing wind might be like the sound of the gusty wind blowing off my fence on Jan 18th this year. Listen to the sound. (mp4) Very strong and powerful, right? Luke describes what looked like tongues of fire dividing and resting on each of the apostles. (pic #5) I cannot imagine what type of phenomena it would be. But from the verse, it clearly indicates that the coming of the Holy Spirit had two physical manifestations: sight and sound! The believers heard a sound (mp4 again) and they physically saw “something” on each other (Pic#5).
The noise caused the Jews visiting Jerusalem to gather and find out what was going on. Nico please continue to read Acts 2:6-7. 6 And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. 7 And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans?
These Jewish people that lived in different countries and spoke different languages were confused. Each one of them could hear the believers from Galilee speaking their very own language. Let’s find out from Acts 2:11. Nico please：
11 both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.”
What they experienced would be similar to us visiting another country where the people do not speak English and we don’t speak their language. If they began to praise God in English so we could understand we would be amazed!
Many in the crowd wanted to know what was happening and wanted to know what this meant. Some in the crowd made fun of the believers and said they had been drinking too much wine.
Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit and he stood up along with the other eleven apostles. (pic6) He told the crowd that they were not drunk. It was only 9 o’clock in the morning. He began to explain to the crowd that God’s promise to send the Holy Spirit had happened that very day on the Day of Pentecost.
Having the Holy Spirit inside him, Peter remembered the words from Scripture that Joel wrote. Let’s read Acts 2:17-21 with Nico.
“‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares,
that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh,
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
and your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams;
18 even on my male servants and female servants
in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.
19 And I will show wonders in the heavens above
and signs on the earth below,
blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke;
20 the sun shall be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood,
before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day.
21 And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’
On that very day the people witnessed God’s promise that He made so many years ago come true. God kept His promise and sent the Holy Spirit. So, the Holy Spirit came on which day? Very good, Jewish Pentecost day. What are the special events people heard and saw? Remember 3S: Sound, sight, and speech. (3S, sight)
Since that time so many years ago every person who has believed in the Lord Jesus has received the gift of the Holy Spirit in their hearts. Teacher Sharon did, your parents did. We don’t see flames of fire resting on our heads or hear loud wind noises but we do receive the power of the Holy Spirit to enable us to live lives that please God.
If you have been saved you will want to do what pleases God. Believers cannot live lives to please God without the power of the Holy Spirit living inside of their heart. Our good shepherd Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to guide us any moment. If you ask God to help you live a life that pleases Him, the Holy Spirit will give you power to do the things you know you need to do. Remember the Holy Spirit is to testify of Jesus Christ, when we share our story of trusting Jesus, the Holy Spirit will work in our friend’s heart, and lead them to know Jesus, to know God. (witness pic) Starting from next Sunday, we will study the book of Acts from Chapter one.
Pray: Father, You know the hearts of every person in this room. You desire for all to be saved. If there is anyone in this room this morning who has not been saved, speak to their hearts and help them to obey what they know they need to do. For each believer here help us to allow your Holy Spirit to give us the power to do the things we know will please You. Let us see your power in our lives this week as we trust you each day. In Jesus Name we pray these things. Amen.